Tree-protecting apparatus



O. V. HONSTEDT.

TREE PROTECTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED TEB. I3, 19.19.

Patented Aug. 31; 1920.

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OBRA VAY'I-IONS'IEDT, 0F UPLAND, CALIFORNIA.

TREE-PROTECTING APPARATUS.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Ang. Si, 1920.

Application filed February 13, 1919. Serial No. 276,858.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, OBRA VAY Honsrnn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Upland, in the county ot' San Bernardino and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tree-Protecting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tree protecting apparatus, and consists in the provision of the new and useful features and the improved construction, arrangement and combination of parts, the purpose of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the pre ferred form of structure herein shown, ydescribed and claimed.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a means for thoroughly protect ing trees from the cold; and while it is especially designed i'for protecting perennial or evergreen trees, orange, lemon and other citrus trees, from the frost or low, chilly temperatures, it is not limited to that use.

It is well known that a very slight covering over deciduous fruit trees, in zones of low temperatures will protect the fruit buds from winter killing; and my device is designed to protect such treesy from such in- Jury. A

The need of such a device is well known, and great effort has heretofore been made to supply this need; but the apparatus in use has been either ineli'ective to accomplish the desired result, or has been too expensive to be employed generally. Y

Many of the methods heretofore employed for this purpose have been the cause of peranent injury tothe trees, especially the method commonly called srnudgingf7 which process, while operating to shield the fruit from light frost, incases the leaves oi Athe tree in a thin coating of oily carbon soot is eliminated and the cost of installation trivial in comparison with the results obtained.

Other objects, advantages and features ot invention may appear from the accompanying drawing` the detailed description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention.

Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus in use inclosing a tree, a part ot the canvas being broken away to show a small portion of the tree trunk.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus showing the canvas cover folded back in its position when not in use.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the frame with the vcanvas cover supporting rings removed.

Fig. el is a section taken on the line ait-af* F ig. 3. i

F ig, 5 is a section taken on the line 00L-x5 Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a section takenon the line mG--ac Fig. 3. 'i A Fig. 7 is a plan view or" the frame with the canvas supporting 'fork pointing in the same direction it would appear when looking at Fig. d in plan elevation, and showing the canvas removed but the supporting rings in position.

Fig. 8 is 'a section taken on the line 00s-0:8 Fig. l, and showing a fragmentary portion of the canvas and ring support.

Fig. 9 is a Jragmentalplan section on line 09 Figs. 3 and 4;.

ln detail, theirame l is preferably :formed of the pipe 2 into the lower end oil which is shrunk the sharpened steel' spike 3 which is designed to be thrust into the ground close to the body of the tree when the apparatus is to be installed into use, as shown in Fig. 2.

Slidably fitted in the other end of the pipe 2 is the rod 4. its tree end being bent at right angles with its body and coiled into the ring 5A concentric with its body.

The rod l is provided with a series of transverse perforations 6, and near the upper end of the pipe 2 is drilled the hole i that is revolub'ly seated on the pipe, and

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in the ground.

from this ringare extended the lugslO to l which is pivoted on the pinill one end of the pipe 12, which is provided with the telethin cover of gauze or other light material,

to .protect the tree from the attacks of insects or birds.

By the useVV of my apparatus, orange, lemon, grape-fruit and similar trees may be protected against outside temperature as low at twenty degrees above zero.

When used fordeciduous trees it is installed before the extreme cold endangers scoping rod 18 on the outer end of Whiehvihe young buds and kept in place until all Y is formed the fork 22 which is adapted to hold the canvas 23 when it is desired to hold it back from the tree. The hole 20 in the pipe 12 and the Vholesll in the rod 18 V allow the rodto be securedA by'means of the 'pin V21 to shorten or lengthen the arm formed of the said pipe and rod.

.At the upper Vend of the pipe 2 'is the ring 13 secured similar to Vthe ring 9, to the lugs 14 of which the rod 16 is pivoted by the pivotV 15. The outer end of this rod is formed intothe hook 17 adapted to engage and support the pipe 12 in the post tion shoivn in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 7 When the canvas is folded into the fork 22.

The canvas 23 is similar .to that of an ordinary tent except that vits narrowed top portion is secured to a plurality of rings 24 adapted to be mounted on the standard ring 5, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8.

' As sho'vvnin Figs. 1 and 5, the canvas 23 is open from top to bottom at 25, the edges of the opening being provided lWith. the hooks and eyes 26 by means of Which the edges may be secured to close `the canvas around a tree. Y

I have designated canvas as the preferred material for the cover 23, but other material may be used, to reduce the cost or to increase the protection without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Y In operation, the device is erected by moving the frame 1 to a position close to the body Vof a tree, ivliich be Veasily accomplished by pushing aside any impeding limbs, and then insertingthe spike 8 firmly The rod 4 is then adjusted to bring the top of the canvas slightly above'the top of the tree andthe canvas drawn around in an enveloping position and the edges vsecured together, as shown in Vbeing absorbed during the day when the canvas is open and foldedin the fork, as shown in Fig. 2; the tree being covered only at night Vwhen the danger of'frost is the greatest.

It is to beunderstood that my invention -`is notlimitedto protection from cold or frost, as it may also be used for protection Vdanger is passed, opening the cover'at times to allow the sun and rain to getto the trees.

I claim- Y 1. Ina tree protector, a standard adapted to be adjusted to dierent heights; means on theupper end of said standard for supporting `in either open or closed position a tree covering fabric; an arm pivotally mounted on said standard; adjustablemeans for retaining said arm at an vangle 'from saidV standard; and means on' the outer-end of said arm forretainingthe tree vcovering fabric in a non-covering position. l 2. Ina tree protector, the combination of a standard adapted for insertion Vin the ground near a tree in vertical position; means for adjusting said' standardto different heights; a tree covering fabric secured to the upper end of saidrsta'ndard; means for adjusting said fabric to envelopingor non-covering position relative to. the tree; an arm pivotally mounted on said standard; means for adjusting the length of said arm; means for adjusting and retaining said arm at an angle in relation to said'standard; and means on the outer end of said armfor retaining the tree coveringfabric in a noncovering position. Y

' 3. In a tree protector, the combination of a standard adapted for insertion in the ground near a tree in vertical position; a tree covering fabric secured to the upper Vend of said standardymeans for adjusting on the outer end of said arm for retaining the tree covering in a non-covering position.

4. A tree protector comprising"an-'adjust-V able standard; means Vfor insertingfsaid standardin the ground; an arm foldably attached to said standard and adapted to be extended radially'from said standard; prongs on said arm; radially movable means on top of said standard; a tent cover rat- .tached to said radially movable means for securingV said tent cover to inclose a tree.

5. In a tree protector, a telescopically eX- tensible standard'the lovverend of Which is sharpened to adapt it to enter the ground and the upper end of Which is extended laterally` at right angles and formed into a convoluted hook; a telescopically extensible arm on the standard and radially and vertically movable thereon; prongs on said arm; holding Ineens on the standard adapted to hold said arm at an angle to the standard; a tent cover; rings attached to the tent cover adapted t0 be slipped onto the convoluted hook at the top of the standard; and means for 'securing said cover around a tree to protect it.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 5th day of February, 1919.

OBRA VAY HONSTEDT.

Witness:

W. M. GENTLE. 

